Workforce Development, Higher Education & Economic Policy

Governors are working to expand economic opportunity and advance the nation’s global competitiveness by developing the skilled workforce and economic environment required for individuals, businesses and communities to thrive.

As the chief executive officers of their states, Governors set strategic priorities to align workforce and economic development activities to build a shared vision of societal and economic well-being. The NGA Workforce Development & Economic Policy program supports Governors and their appointees in developing and executing on these priorities.

NGA Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

NGA provides advisors and other Governor-appointed state workforce system leaders with technical assistance on a broad range of workforce development policy issues through policy memoranda; in-state site visits and presentations, and facilitated connections with subject matter experts. The team also holds biannual convenings and monthly briefings and issues a weekly newsletter.

Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

The NGA Center’s joint project with the U.S. Department of Labor supports Governors and their advisors as they develop and implement their federally required four-year strategic plans for workforce development. Technical assistance offerings include an emphasis on implementation of federal investments that passed during the 117th Congress, namely the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act.

NGA Economic Policy Advisors and Economic Policy Technical Assistance

NGA provides Governor-appointed state economic development leaders and advisors with highly responsive and customized best practice research, strategic planning facilitation, timely information from federal partners and subject matter experts, and other support on a broad range of economic policy priorities. This includes an upcoming virtual event series as well as a bi-weekly newsletter.

Meet The Team

  • Portia Pratt, Policy Director, Higher Education
  • Sophia Yager, Policy Director, Workforce Development & Economic Policy
  • Malena Dailey, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Kyra Gardner, Policy Coordinator

Focus Areas

  • Apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship
  • Sector-focused workforce and economic development strategies
  • Workforce development financing, governance, and innovation
  • Outdoor recreation & economic development  
  • Service-to-career pathways and public sector employment
  • IIJA, CHIPS and IRA implementation Future of work, digital transformation and digital skills
  • Disability inclusive workforce policy

Services Available

  • Strategic planning facilitation and best practice guidance on workforce and economic development topics or initiatives
  • Strategic guidance, feedback and meeting facilitation services for Governor-appointed state workforce development boards
  • Convenings for workforce and economic development advisors and state leaders on emerging issues
  • Regular newsletters for state workforce and economic development leaders
  • Customized research briefs and best practice presentations upon request

Workforce Development Library

Understanding & Supporting the On-Demand Workforce

Understanding & Supporting the On-Demand Workforce

(View/Download) Background As governors and state officials lead response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unique challenges facing on-demand workers have risen to the forefront. On-demand work is central to the ...
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State Strategies to Leverage RESEA in Response to COVID-19

State Strategies to Leverage RESEA in Response to COVID-19

(View/Download) Introduction This memo provides an overview and state examples of Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), an integrated unemployment assessment and reemployment program that is critical in coordinating state ...
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20 States Join Network to Identify and Scale Strategies to Help Workers Succeed in a Post-Pandemic Economy

20 States Join Network to Identify and Scale Strategies to Help Workers Succeed in a Post-Pandemic Economy

National Governors Association, American Association of Community Colleges Launch Reskilling and Recovery Network As America’s workers face unprecedented disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 states are committed to a ...
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The Navigator – North Carolina’s Online Work-Based Learning Platform

The Navigator – North Carolina’s Online Work-Based Learning Platform

The NGA Center for Best Practices, with support from the Siemens Foundation, is working with states through the Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning to scale high-quality work-based learning programs ...
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Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption

Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption

(View/Download) Preface When Future Workforce Now: Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption launched in 2018, emerging technologies were rapidly shifting expectations of workers. Meanwhile, many employers struggled to ...
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National Governors Association Issues Guide for Building a Resilient Workforce Amid Technological Disruption

‘State Guide for Preparing the Future Workforce Now’ a Timely Resource as COVID-19 Accelerates Disruption As COVID-19 accelerates disruptions impacting the American workforce, the National Governors Association (NGA) issued the ...
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Short-Time Compensation Programs as a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy

Short-Time Compensation Programs as a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy

(View/Download) Introduction This memo provides governors and state officials with an overview of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) program and opportunities for developing, promoting, and expanding state STC programs during the ...
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Key Steps and Considerations for Building a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce

Key Steps and Considerations for Building a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce

(View/Download) Executive Summary As outlined in our Roadmap to Recovery, as states gradually reopen economic and social activities, they must build a robust public health infrastructure with the capacity to ...
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State Strategies to Transition Dislocated and Incumbent Workers into High-Demand Industries

State Strategies to Transition Dislocated and Incumbent Workers into High-Demand Industries

(View/Download) Background While disruptions caused by COVID-19 have led to unprecedented increases in unemployment, some industries are now experiencing regional workforce shortages as they escalate their operations to support the ...
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Economic Policy Library

Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development

Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development

Through the creative industries, states have an opportunity to create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. (View/Download) Arts and culture are ...
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Promoting Film and Media to Enhance State Economic Development

Promoting Film and Media to Enhance State Economic Development

Film and media arts can play a key role in state economic development. As economic impact studies continue to demonstrate the ability of the film industry to create high-paying jobs, ...
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Testimony – Business Activity Tax

Chairwoman Sanchez, Ranking Member Cannon and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be here on behalf of the National Governors Association (NGA) to communicate governors' strong opposition to ...
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State Efforts to Promote Reading and Literary Activities in Communities

State Efforts to Promote Reading and Literary Activities in Communities

Policies and programs that support reading can help create a culture of reading and community action. By promoting literary reading, states can help build vibrant communities and compete in the ...
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Testimony – Rural Development

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me here to testify. I am John Hoeven, Governor of the State of North Dakota, and I ...
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